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The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Search and Rescue Unit is an organization of paid and non-paid professionals dedicated to saving lives through rescue, emergency medicine, and safety education. It is our duty to provide the highest level of skill and best possible care to those who call upon us for help. Serving Red Rock, Mt. Charleston, Lake Mead, and Southern Nevada.

Last Thursday afternoon, seven Mountain Rescue volunteers dropped everything that they were doing and headed to Mt. Charleston in response to reports of a fallen climber. It was early afternoon, so many left work. Others gave up their day off. Each volunteer climbed into their personal vehicle and used their own gear to drive to Mt. Charleston, hike to the location of the fallen climber, and help with the recovery. Nearly 6 hours later, each volunteer headed back down the mountain, back to their normal lives. This type of scenario selflessly occurs numerous times throughout the year.

These are the people that you'll be supporting when you make a tax-deductible donation. Our July fundraiser is wrapping up, so make a donation today to help subsidize the out-of-pocket expenses that are incurred by our volunteers. Every little bit helps!

Yesterday morning, SAR units were dispatched to an area above the Big Falls trail at Mt. Charleston in response to reports of three stranded hikers, one of which had fallen 70 feet. Two officers were initially flown in by Huey where they located one of the stranded hikers. While rescuing the hiker, they learned that one of the hikers was able to return to the parking lot on their own while the other hiker had fallen off of the cliff face in front of them after a branch that he had been hanging onto broke.

While conducting the rescue for the stranded hiker, winds in the canyon began to increase, making it difficult to use the helicopter. As a result, Mountain Rescue volunteers were called to the area to help with the hiker who had fallen.

Seven volunteers responded and joined one officer in hiking to the base of the cliff, just behind Mt. Charleston Fire Department personnel. The two officers who had helped to rescue the stranded hiker began making their way down the cliff face. The fallen hiker's body was initially discovered by fire personnel. Rescue teams estimate the actual fall to be upwards of 150 feet.

Trail to Big Falls - Hiking in

LVMPDSAR officers documented the scene and volunteers helped to extricate the fallen hiker. Because of the remote location, the body was lowered approximately 400 feet in the direction of the hiking trail that leads to Big Falls. By this time, winds had died down, so the 500 was called in to short haul the fallen hiker and rescue personnel out of the canyon.

Waiting for the 500 to arrive

500 coming in to short haul

LVMPDSAR sends its deepest condolences to family and friends of the fallen hiker.

There's been lots of talk in the news lately about a new company called LightSquared, a business based out of Virginia that is planning on building the next open wireless broadband network. This new network will utilize satellites to provide 4G-LTE coverage to millions of broadband Users.

The Global Positioning System (GPS) also uses signals from satellites, along with algorithms, to determine location. GPS functionality has become commonplace for many people around the globe, including automobile and aviation navigation for drivers and pilots, smartphone users, hikers, and military personnel.

Why is there so much concern about the intent of this new company and current GPS technology?

According to PNT (Positioning, Navigation, Timing), LightSquared plans on transmitting signals "immediately adjacent to GPS frequencies". Because LightSquared's transmissions originate from the ground, the concern is that their signals will over-power GPS signals, which originate from space. Although LightSquared and GPS signals will travel on separate frequencies, it is believed that units will favor LightSquared signals over GPS signals because of frequency proximity and strength. This means that all electronics that currently contain GPS components and functionality have the potential to be compromised by LightSquared's signals.

Because this is new technology, LightSquared must achieve FCC approval before their network goes live.

If this is a debate that you're interested in chiming in on, there are a couple of days left to express your concerns and/or opinion. The FCC established a comment deadline of July 30, 2011. Check out the Public Notice for more information.

Either way, it's fun to learn how that little GPS unit that you depend on so much actually works!

Thanks to your overwhelming generosity, our July fundraiser has been a huge success! Because of the numerous donations that we've received, we upped our original goal from $1,000 to $2,000. As of this morning, we're at $1,105, so help us spread the word. We've got 6 days left to achieve our new goal! Our volunteers go out of pocket to purchase a majority of the equipment that's used for training and rescue missions. Your donations help to offset these costs and we couldn't be more thankful for all of the contributions that have been made. Visit our fundraising site to make a donation or click on the Donate button on this page!

Yesterday, Mountain Rescue volunteers were at Mt. Charleston conducting a training session to help hone the team's search skills. The scenario was a missing 14 year old girl who left her campsite after arguing with her parents. MR volunteers worked with Air Support and other agencies to find the girl, who had wandered from the Meadows area down one of the nearby canyons. After finding the girl, volunteers treated injuries and the Air Unit helped to extracted the patient by helicopter. Fox 5 News was on site and captured the following story:

Volunteers participate in 24 training sessions per year that total about 145. Volunteers are also on call 24/7 and respond to rescues in various areas of Southern Nevada. Community involvement is very important to us and we appreciate all of the support that we receive!

Today, one Mountain Rescue Volunteer and two Officers responded to the Little Falls trail at Mt. Charleston. Initial reports indicated that a 39 year-old female hiker had injured her ankle and knee while hiking the trail.

Upon arrival, Fire and Ambulance Units had responded to the scene and reached the patient. In order to extract the patient, one Officer was lowered by hoist along with a litter. The Officer, along with Fire personnel, splinted the patient's knee and carried the patient about 200 yards down the trail in order to prepare for extraction. The patient was hoisted out of the canyon along with the Officer. The patient was delivered to a waiting ambulance who transported the patient to the hospital.

According to the City of Las Vegas, July is Flash Flood Awareness Month. As Monsoon season rolls in, the City wants to remind its residents of the following:

Stay tuned to local weather broadcasts during severe weather. A flash flood watch means that a flash flood is possible in a particular area. A flash flood warning means that flash flooding is already occurring or will occur in a particular area.

If you suspect a flash flood is about to happen, immediately climb to higher ground.

If on foot, do not attempt to walk through floodwaters. Turn around and go directly to higher ground.

Never let children or pets play near floodwaters, storm drains, washes and sewers.

If you are in a car, drive away from flooded areas -- never try to drive through them. Even though vehicles in front of you have passed through the high water, you may not be so lucky. Plan alternate routes to get to and from your destination. Only a few inches of floodwater can wash your car off the road.

If your car stalls, immediately abandon it and climb to higher ground.

Flooded areas are not safe for recreational boating.

If advised to evacuate, do so immediately. Follow recommended evacuation routes.

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flash floods.

Do not let children or pets play near flood control channels or detention basins.

Additional information on the Clark County Regional Flood Control District can be found here.

During the past couple of weeks, several severe thunderstorms have dumped inches of rain in a matter of minutes. Remember to stay away from standing or moving water on roadways and stay out of flood channels. Stay safe this monsoon season!